Chapter Eighteen: The Beauty, Li Ying

Two hours later, Sha Le'er arrived in Foshan. Foshan was an important city in the Pearl River Delta, its economy flourishing and its urban landscape expanding rapidly. Stepping off the bus, he saw towering buildings everywhere and dared not wander off.

His heart pounded with anxiety. When he called Boss Hong that morning, Hong had sounded delighted, but Sha Le'er still worried, feeling this was somewhat frivolous. He had neither education nor skills—would Boss Hong truly pay him a monthly wage of three thousand?

He dialed Boss Hong again to let him know he had arrived.

"Little brother, you've made it!" Boss Hong sounded genuinely pleased. "Wait at the station, I'm in a meeting, but I'll send someone to pick you up."

Sha Le'er finally breathed a sigh of relief and calmed himself. He stayed put, waiting beneath a tree at the station entrance for his escort.

Many people passed by him, many cars drove by. Half an hour later, a white car stopped nearby, and out stepped a woman so stunning that she took his breath away. She was tall, dressed in a white cotton dress. Sha Le'er, not well-read, could only think of one word: beautiful. A beauty he dared not look at directly. In his eyes, if Gang Mengzi's girlfriend was a goddess, then this woman was a Bodhisattva descended to earth.

"Bodhisattva... Are there really women this beautiful in the world?"

He marveled silently.

The woman lingered by the car door, scanning her surroundings. When her gaze landed on him, it lingered a moment, almost stealing his soul. He quickly averted his eyes.

She then made a phone call, and at the same time, Sha Le'er’s phone rang.

"Hello, are you Mr. Sha Le'er?" The voice on the phone was hers, melodious beyond words. His face flushed as he walked over to her.

"Big sister, I am Sha Le'er," he stammered. The woman carried an air of nobility that made him feel unworthy. He was a country boy, unacquainted with the world, and had never interacted with women like her. Zhou Wenli was pretty, but she was a fellow laborer, approachable.

"You are Sha Le'er?"

"Yes, big sister..."

"Get in the car then."

Sha Le'er tried to open the car door but couldn’t. The woman frowned, reached out herself, and opened it for him. He smiled sheepishly.

"I’ve never ridden in such a fancy car, so I don’t know how to open the door."

"Sit properly," she said, expressionless, and started the car, merging onto the road.

"Big sister, may I ask your surname?" Sha Le'er grew chattier once seated. It was only polite to ask the name of someone helping you.

"My name is Li Ying." She frowned, a bit impatient. "Please don’t keep calling me ‘big sister’—do I look that old to you?"

"Not at all... not at all, big sister... You can’t be more than twenty, you look younger than me."

Li Ying was indeed young, barely in her twenties. She hadn’t intended to converse, but his constant 'big sister' made her feel awkward. Yet, seeing his honesty, she couldn’t be harsh, so she smiled wryly.

“All right, if you must, call me Sister Ying. I’m twenty-two. How about you?”

“Okay, Sister Ying, I’m seventeen.” Sha Le’er responded happily, glad she was talking to him. In truth, he was a month shy of seventeen, but country folk always count the years generously.

“Only seventeen? You look sturdy.” Li Ying warmed to him, seeing his sweet manners. “Why aren’t you in school?”

“My family’s poor—I stopped long ago.”

“Oh…” Li Ying glanced at him again.

“Sister Ying, your voice is beautiful, like singing, and… and…”

“And what?” Li Ying smiled. “You sure talk a lot.”

“Hehe.” Sha Le’er chuckled guilelessly. “It’s dull not to talk… I mean, Sister Ying, you’re so pretty—I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful… as you.”

Women enjoy compliments, especially from someone as honest as this country boy. Li Ying was pleased.

“I didn’t expect a country lad like you could be so glib… Do you have any sisters?”

“No… I’m all alone.” Sha Le’er’s expression dimmed.

“Are you an orphan?”

“Yes… and no.”

“What do you mean? Yes and no?” Li Ying looked at him in surprise.

“I have parents, but I haven’t seen them since I was eight. My grandfather died too. Does that make me an orphan?”

“What happened to your parents? Why don’t they visit?”

Li Ying was even more surprised, and a bit sympathetic.

“I don’t know.” Sha Le’er’s words were heavy. “They divorced and abandoned me at eight. Both work away from home.”

“Oh…” Li Ying shook her head, a hint of sadness in her face. “I didn’t expect you to be so pitiful. Well, from now on, call me Sister Ying. Think of me as your sister.”

“Sister Ying, you’re so kind.” Sha Le’er grinned, his face bright with joy. “With such a beautiful sister, I’ll be smiling even in my dreams… Sister Ying, now I have a sister!”

Sha Le’er was reserved with men, but with women—especially those a bit older—he was talkative and charming. Within moments, Li Ying had become his sister. They chatted happily all the way, and soon arrived at their destination.

Leaving the main road, they drove three or four miles to a low but sprawling hill enclosed by fencing, with many buildings inside. The car passed through the gates, wound past several large buildings, and finally stopped before an imposing villa.

“We’re here. Get out.”

As they stepped out, Sha Le’er saw Boss Hong emerge from the building, followed by several rotund, important-looking men. Boss Hong, delighted to see Sha Le’er, broke away from the others and approached.

“Little brother, you arrived quickly!”

“Hello, Boss Hong.”

“Xiao Ying, let Sha Le’er stay with you for a few days. Let him look around the snake garden,” Boss Hong said, patting Li Ying’s shoulder. “Don’t neglect him.”

“Don’t worry, Chairman. He’s already made me his sister,” Li Ying replied with a smile.

“Boss Hong, do I… don’t I need to work?” Sha Le’er asked shyly.

Boss Hong regarded him for a moment, then burst out laughing.

“Relax. From today, your salary starts—three thousand a month, not a penny less.”

“But… it feels wrong, taking money without working…” Sha Le’er said awkwardly.

Boss Hong gave a few more instructions, then drove off. After he left, Li Ying looked at Sha Le’er in confusion.

“Le’er, are you related to Chairman Hong?”

“You mean Boss Hong?” Sha Le’er shook his head. “No, we only met two days ago.”

“Then why is he so good to you?” Li Ying shook her head. “Strange. Come, I’ll show you your dormitory.”

Li Ying led him to another building and asked the manager to open a room. It wasn’t big, but had a bedroom and bathroom, a fan, and air conditioning. Seeing only one bed, Sha Le’er was surprised.

“Sister Ying, is this room just for me?”

“Yes, don’t you like it?” Li Ying touched the bed. “These are our company’s technical staff quarters—one person per room. Chairman Hong said you should have the same treatment.”

“Ah—”

Sha Le’er was both excited and amazed.

“Come, let me show you how to use the air conditioner. I bet you don’t know how.” Li Ying rolled her eyes at him. “Remember.”

She taught him, step by step, to use it. Enjoying the cool air, Sha Le’er grinned foolishly. Compared to yesterday, it was like heaven and earth.

He truly had met a benefactor.